Mendocino County Biographies
James Townsend
Transcribed by: Pat Howard
This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm
Whose portrait appears in this work, was born in Lowell,
Massachusetts, September 10, 1830, and is the eldest son of James and Parthenia
Townsend. Resided in Lowell until April 5, 1849, at which time he sailed from
Boston in the ship Areatus, via Cape Horn, for California, arriving in San
Francisco September 22d of that year; proceeded to the mines and engaged in
mining, and followed it until December, 1851, with fair success. Spent the
winter of that year at the Sandwich Islands, and returned to the State May,
1852, and engaged in the saw-mill business in San Francisco (now San Mateo)
county, near Woodside, as engineer for G. M. Burnham. The following year Mr.
Burnham disposed of his interests to George W. Baker, of San Francisco � then
Recorder. Townsend took the superintendence of the mill and business and erected
another mill near. In 1854 he moved the original mill and run it on contract
until April, 1855. In May following moved to Albion river, Mendocino county, and
in November took the superintendence of the Albion Mill and agency for A. G.
Dallas, under A. W. Macpherson. Was married at Albion December 17, 1859, to Miss
Martha H. Milton, of Damariscotta, Maine. Their children are: James, born at
Albion June 8, 1861; and Fred., born at Noyo May 19, 1862. he assumed charge of
the Noyo Mill January 1, 1861, and moved his family there October 15, 1861.
Resided there and had charge of the entire business of the Albion and Noyo Mills
until January 15, 1871. Left Mendocino county August 18, 1875, and moved to
Haywards, Alameda county, where his family now resides. He became associated
with L. E. White, now of San Francisco, in the general merchandising business at
Albion in September, 1861, under the firm name of L. E. White & Co., and with
Mr. Fred. Brown at Noyo in the same business, October, 1861, under the name of
Townsend & Brown, and with Carroll and others on the South Fork of Eel river,
Humboldt county, same business July, 1869, under firm name of Townsend, Carroll
& Co. In 1875 closed all business connections excepting with L. E. White & Co.,
and moved to Haywards. In May, 1876, returned to Mendocino county, and with Mr.
L. E. White took controlling interest in the Salmon Creek Railroad Company.
Built the road during 1876, the superintendence of which is his present
business.
SOURCE: History of Mendocino County, California - San Francisco, Cal. Alley,
Bowen & Co., Publishers. 1880 Pp. 558, 559